Device for controlling the output of a generator.



N0- 853,30l. PATENTED MAY 14, 190?, E. T. FORD & W. P. BAUER.

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE OUTPUT OF A GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 1906.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

Witnesses lnvanhmvs QA/WWQ- Ethelbavh TFovd by Mm ma A EB'QS.

William F. Bauev No. 853,301. PATENTED MAY 14. 1907.

E. T. FORD & W. F. BAUER.

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE OUTPUT OF A GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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inventovs Ebheibm't T. Fowl Wflham F. Baum H bg WWW/Wald Witnesses s PATENT orrron.

ILLIAM FAIRBANKS BAUER, OF ST. LOUIS,

LOUIS CAR LIGHTING COMPANY, OF ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

DEVICE For: com-Resume. THE OUTPUT 'OF A GENERATOR" Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed. August 9,1906. Serial No. 329,879.

To all whom it may concern:

f Be it known that we, ETHELBERT TAYLOR g FOItZD aIld VVILL IAM FAIRBANKS BAUER, citil Zens of the United States, residing at St.

Louis, Missourh have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Devices for Controlling the Output of Generators, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact descrip tion, such as will enable others skilled in the IQ art to which it appertauis to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 a diagrammatic view of a de 1 5 vic'eemboclyir g the features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the controlling motor which forms part of our invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation. of said motor; and

Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view of the slide on which one of the contacts is mounted.

This invention relates to devices for regulating the output of a generator or dynamo, v and the object pf our invention is to provide a device for th purpose described. which is of simple co ition and "tciuatically operated so 2* to insur v circuit of constant and uniform v We have herein shown the preferred embodiment of our invention in connection with a train-lighting system wherein the generator or dynamo is driven from the car aisle but it should he understood that-our in vention is not limited to this particular use and can he used equally well with any kind of an electric supply circuit;

'Brieily stated, our invention consis ts in introducing a plurality of contacts into the field circuit of a generator and automatic means for varying the positions of said contacts relatively to each other so that the air space betweensame will constitute a vari-' able resistance to the passage of current thrwgh the iield circuit and thus control the output of the generator so asto keep the voltage of the supply circuit constant and uniform. Preferably, means is provided for v preventing too great a current from passing through the contacts and thus causing them .to burn oil, and, as herein shown, said means 5?, consists of a second resistance which introduced into the supply circuit of the generator in multiple with said contacts and an automatically operated device for cutting a 1 generator. thus cutting down the current which flows through said contacts.

Referring to the drawings which represent the preierred form of our lnvention, A designates a generator and 1 a wire which leads from one of the brushes of the generator to the pivoted armature 2 of a magnet 3. The core of said magnet is surrounded by a wire 4 which leads from the pivoted armature 2 with which the wire 1 is connected, said wire 4 leading to the other brush of the generator. The armature 2 of magnet 3 co-operates with a contact 5 to which a wire 6 is connected, said wire being coiled around the core. of the magnet and being connected to aline wire 7 with which the lamps 8 of the lighting system are connected preferably in multiple, said wire leading to the storage battery 9. The other line wire 10 of the lamp circuit is tapped to the return Wire 4 and the branch 12 leads from said wire to the storage battery 9. A wire 13 leads from the field of the generator to a contact 14 and co-operating with said contact is a movable contact 15 to which the current is supplied by means of a conductor hereinafter described, and a wire 16 connected to said conductor and to the arms.- ture 2 of magnet 3.

Up to a rent will not pass through the lamps 8 of the lighting system due to the fact that the ar.

certain speed of the train the air:

mature 2 of magnet 3 will not be in contact As the train increases its speed the generator will, of course, begin to build up and more current will flow through the line wires 1 and. 4 and thus cause the core of the magnet 3 to be energized sufiiciently to attract its armature 2, thereby moving said armature into engagement with the contact 5 of the circuit which supplies the lamps S ot'thc lighting system with current. In order that the voltage in the supply circuit "for the lamps 8 shall remain constant at all times. irrespective of the speed of the armature of the generator A we have provided means for auto matically varying the position of the contacts 14 and 15 relatively to each other as the speed of the armature varies so that the air l Crease in voltage the Current which fiOWS space between said contacts w1ll constitute a variable resistance and thus govern the field of the generator to keep the outputof the generator constant.

-The means which we have herein shown for automatically varying the positions of the contacts 14 and 15 relatively to each other consists of a device which is similar in construction to a hi-polar motor. Said motor is shown in d etail in Figs. and 3, and referring to said figures, 17 designates the armature of the motor which rotates through an arc of approximately 90, the winding of the field 18 of the motor being connected to the wind ing of the armature either iu' series or in multiple. with an upwardly projecting bearing 20 and the rear end of the armature shaft 21 extends through said bearing and is provided with screw-threads that co-operate with screwthreads formed in the bearing 20, as shown in Fig. 3. The conductor 16 is connected to one of the brushes of said motor, as shown in Fig. I

1, so that when current of a predetermined voltage passes through said conductor the armature shaft 21 of sald motor will rotate and also move rearwardly slightly due to its screw-threaded engagement with the bearing 20, the armature shaft 21 being held normally in zero position by means of a spring .22 which may be connected to an arm 23 that is faster-red to said armature shaft. A lever 24 is pivotally connected to the front end of the base 19 of the motor and bears against the front end. of the armature shaft 21. as shown in Fi said lever bein v C I 5 pressed against the end of said shaft by means of a spring 25 which is fastened to the base 19 and l'ic-ars upon the lower end of said lever, thereby causing it to follow the armature shaft 21 when it moves rearwardly. The movable contact 15 is mounted on the upper end of the lever 24 and said contact preferably consists of fuse-irido platinum, the current being supplied to said contact through the lever 24, armature shaft 21 and a branch leading from the conductor 16 to said armature shaft 21. The co-operating contact 14 is adjustably mounted in a slide 26 which is arranged on a stationary support 27, and a spring-28 is employed for moving said slide rearwz'rdly to hold the contacts 14 and 15 in engalgement with each. other for a L--\"" w." i tact lo 's t-artsitipiove owing to the rearward movementof the armature shaft 21.

From the foregoing description it will he understood that after the circuit for the lamps 8 has been cut in, any increase in speed of the train will not increase the voltage in said circuit due to the fact that the current in the field of the generator A will be cut down by the automatic variation of the movable concertain 'lQn f-lLfO ii iime after the movable contact 15 relatively to the contact 14, the in- The frame 19 of the motor is provided through the conductor 16 to one of the brushes of the controlling motor causing the armature shaft 21 of said motor to rotate and 1 thus move rearwardly slightly so that the contact 15 will separate from the contact H and cause an air space to be formed between these contacts which acts as a resistance to the passage of the current through the field circuit.

' While we have stated that the contacts it and 15 are separated it will, or course, he understood that this separation 15 very slight and 15 not great enough to cause the circuit to be broken. For preventing the contacts 14 and 15 from burning-oil aswill be liable to occur if too great a current passes through them, we prefer to use a carbon resistance in the field circuit of the generator connected in multiple with these contacts, and means for automatically cutting more or less of said resistance into and out of commission as the speed of the armature of the generator A. varies. Said resistance may be of any suitable character but preferably consists of a number of low resistance ii'icandescent lamps :29 of inferior grade.

I The means for cutting more or less of the carbon resistance into and out of commission consists of the arnrZ-i which is fastened to the armature shaft 21 of. the controlling motor, said arm being provided with a spring contact which co-operates with too contacts '30, 31 and 3'2 of the lamps 29 that form said carbon resistance. The lirst lamp of the carbon resistance is normally in service, the arm 33 engaging the contact 30 when the armature shaft 21 of the controlling motor in zero position, the wire :33 which leads from said lamp being tapped to the field wire 1 3 of generator A. As the armature shaft of the controlling motor rotates. due to the increased sp'eed of the armature of the generator A, the arm '23 will engage the contact 31 of the second lamp and thus cut in more resistance so as to consume some of the additional current wl ich flows through the con ductor 16 and thus prevent an excessive amount of current from passing through the contacts 14 and 15. further movement ofthe armature shaft '21 causing said arm to engage the contact 32 of the third lamp and thus automatically increase the resistance. By mounting the contact H on the nmva-ble slide '26 said contact will remain in engagement wit-h its movable contact 15 until the arm 23 has engaged the contact 31 of the second lamp of the carbon resistance. the downwardly projecting portion of said slide which carries the contact 14 then coming into engagement with the end of the support. 22'; on which the slide is mounted so that any further movement of the lever 24 will cause an air gap to be formed between the contacts l t and 15. Preferably, we employ a safety too wire 34 which leads from the carbon resistance to the armature shaft of the controlling motor so that in case of breakage of the arm 23 the entire carbon resistance will be. cut into commission. I 5

From the foregoing description it will be seen th at We have provided a device which is of simple construction and entirely automatic in'its operation for controlling the output of a generator, thereby insuring a supply circuit of constant and uniform voltage.

Having't'hus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for controlling the output of a. generator, comprising a plurality of contacts arranged in the field circuit of the generator, means operated by the passage of current through the supply circuit of the generator for automatically varying the position of one of said contacts relatively to the other to change the strength of the field of the generator, a resistance in said field circuit, and independent means for automatically cutting said resistance into and out of commission as the relative positions of said contacts vary, substantially as described.

2. Means for controllingthe output of a generator, comprising a plurality of contacts arranged in the field circuit of the generator, an automatically operated device actuated bythe passage of current through the supply circuitof the generator for changing the positions of said contacts relatively to each other, a resistance arranged in said field 4 circuit and'connected in multiple with said contacts, and means for automatically cutting more or less of said resistance into and out of commission as the position of said con tacts relatively to.each other varies; substantially as described... 3. A device for the purpose" described, comprising a resistance in the field circuit of a generator, automatic means for varying said resistance as the'current through the supply circuit of the generator varies, a carbon resistance in shunt with the resistance first referredto, and automatic means for cutting more or less of said carbon resistance into said field circuit in proportion to the variations of the resistance first referred to; substantially asdescribed.

4. A device for. the purpose specified, comprising a generator, a plurality of contacts arranged in the field circuitof the generator, an electric machine which is supplied with current from the supply circuit of the generator, a device governed by said'eleotric-ma chine for varying the positions of said contacts relatively to each other, a carbon resistance, and. means actuated by said electric machine for cutting more or less of said carbon resistance into the field circuit of the generator; substantially as described.

5. A device for the purpose specified, com- .nally,

prising a generator, a plurality of contacts arranged in the field circuit of the generator, an electric machine connected to the supply circuit of the generator and being'so con- ,structed that its armature shaft moves longithe positions of said contacts relatively to each other; substantially as described.

6. A device for the purpose specified, comprising a generator, a plurality of contacts arranged in the field circuit of the generator, an electric machine connected to the supply circuit of the generator and being so constructed that its armature shaft moves longitudinally when current of a predetermined strength passes through said machine and rotates anarmature which is fixed to said shaft, a member which is engaged by the end of the armature shaft of said machine for changing the positions of said contacts relatively to each other, a carbon resistance connected in multiple with saidcontacts, and means'actu 'an electric machine connected to the supplyv circuit of the generator and having an armature shaft which is provided with a screwthreaded portion, a fixed bearing in which the screw-threaded portion of said armature shaft is mounted, whereby rotary movement of said shaft will cause it to move longitudiand a yielding member bearing against the end of said armature shaft and carrying one of said contacts; substantially as de-.

scribed.

8. A device for the purpose specified, comprising a generator, a plurality of contacts arranged in the field circuit of the generator, an electric machine'connected to the supply circuit of the generator and having an armature shaft which is provided with a screwthreaded portion, an armature fixedto. said shaft a fixed bearing in which the screwthreaded portion of, said armature shaftv is mounted, whereby rotary movement of said shaft will cause it to move longitudinally, a

. spring-actuated member-be aring against the end of said armature shaft and carrying one of said contacts, a carbon resistance, and a device connected to said armature shaft which is adapted to cut more or less of said resistance into the field circuit of the generator as the armature shaft of said electric machine rotates; substantially as described.

9. A device for the purpose described, comprising a plurality of contacts arranged in the field circuit of a generator, an electric mach1ne connected [0 the supply circuit of the generatorand being so constructed that its armature shaft rotates through an arc of approximately 90 when current of a predctelminetl strength passes through said niachine, a pivoted nieinher cainving one of said contacts and yiehhngly engaging one end 01 said arnmture shaft. means for causing the when the armature attains a certain speed, a pluralit; of contacts arranged in the line which connects the armature and the field of the generator together, an electric machine adapted to be energized by the current passing through the supply circuit of the generator for changing the position of said contacts relatively to each other, a carbon resistance, and a member actuated by said electric machine for cutting. said resistance into and out of the field circuit; substantially as de' scribed.

In'testirnony whereof, we hereunto aifix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses, this 30th day of J uly, 1906.

E"HELBERT TAYLOR FORD. WILLIAM FAIRBAXKS BAUER.-

Witnesses:

A. C. Coon, ALMA F. KUEIILIYG. 

